This course serves as a foundational journey into the world of digital art, specifically tailored for aspiring video game artists. Students learn to navigate and master industry-standard digital drawing software. The curriculum covers basic to intermediate techniques, including layer management, brush customization, and color theory application, to create compelling digital illustrations. Emphasis is placed on developing a keen eye for composition, lighting, and perspective, essential skills for crafting art for video games. Through hands-on projects, students explore character and environment 2D asset creation, building a portfolio of digital artworks. This course is designed to equip students with the digital drawing skills necessary to bring their creative visions to life in a digital format.

This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of 3D modeling, a cornerstone in the creation of video game assets. Utilizing industry standard software, students learn the essentials of mesh topology, texturing, and lighting. The curriculum focuses on building a solid foundation in modeling techniques for 3D assets, emphasizing the importance of efficient modeling practices for game development. Projects guide students through the process of creating 3D models and implementation in game engines. At the end of the course, students have developed a portfolio of 3D models and gained a comprehensive understanding of the 3D modeling process in video game development.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the art and science of game design. Students dive into the core aspects of game mechanics, learning how to create engaging and balanced gameplay experiences. The curriculum explores the history and theory of game design, offering insights into the evolution of games and their impact on culture. Through a combination of lectures, case studies, and hands-on projects, students develop their own game concepts, focusing on innovation, creativity, and player psychology. The course emphasizes the importance of narrative elements, aesthetics, and technology in game design, preparing students to craft games that captivate and entertain players. At the end of the course, students have an understanding of the game design process and the ability to create original game designs that resonate with audiences.

This course offers an in-depth look at the video game production process, from initial concept to the final release. Students learn about the various stages of game development, including pre-production planning, production, post-production, and distribution. The curriculum covers key areas such as project management, team collaboration, budgeting, and scheduling, essential for the successful delivery of a video game project. Through real-world case studies and project-based learning, students gain insights into the challenges and best practices in game production. The course also addresses the importance of marketing and community engagement in the success of a game. At the end of the course, students have a comprehensive understanding of the video game production lifecycle and the skills to navigate the complexities of bringing a game to market.

In this course, students use a versatile and user-friendly engine designed for 2D game development. This course is tailored to introduce the fundamentals of game development, emphasizing hands-on learning through the construction of a simple 2D video game. Students start by exploring the interface, learning how to navigate and utilize its features effectively. The curriculum covers the basics of scripting events, enabling students to bring interactivity and gameplay mechanics to life within their projects. Through practical exercises, students learn how to import and manage assets, including sprites, sounds, and backgrounds, integrating these elements to craft visually appealing game scenes.

This course delves into the critical skill of texturing, a process that breathes life into game environments and models by adding color, detail, and realism. Students learn the fundamentals of texture creation, including UV mapping, baking, and the use of both bitmap and procedural textures. Utilizing industry-standard tools, the curriculum guides students through the techniques for creating textures that convey material properties like metal, wood, fabric, and more. Emphasis is placed on the integration of textures into 3D models and environments, ensuring they enhance the visual storytelling of the game. Projects involve texturing a variety of assets, from simple objects to complex scenes, teaching students how to balance artistic vision with technical constraints for optimal performance in game engines. At the end of the course, students possess a solid understanding of texturing principles and the ability to apply these techniques to create immersive game worlds.

This course explores the foundational principles of art and design within the specialized framework of game development. Students are introduced to the concepts of line, shape, form, color, texture, space, and composition, learning how these elements can be used to create visually compelling game assets and environments. The curriculum emphasizes the importance of visual storytelling and the role of art and design in enhancing player immersion and emotional engagement. Through a series of projects, students apply these principles to various aspects of game art, from game title design to box art, promotional game concepts and more. The course also covers the critical process of critique and revision, teaching students to evaluate their work and the work of others through the lens of art and design principles. By integrating theory with practical application, the course prepares students to make informed design decisions that contribute to the creation of aesthetically rich and cohesive game experiences.

This course is the first in a series of capstone game production courses, focusing on the pre-production stage of game development. In this course, students collaboratively conceptualize a game design, and create prototypes to visualize their designs. Emphasizing teamwork, this applied course aims to foster skills in game design planning, prototype development, and critical evaluation through game testing.

This course will assist new Toronto Film School students be successful in an accelerated post-secondary learning environment. Focus will be placed on cultivating the skills and strategies that are necessary for achieving well-articulated, meaningful professional and academic goals. Topics include time management, budgeting, studying, information literacy, communication, positive decision-making, stress management, and staying motivated. Students will finish the Student Success Workshop with an actionable success strategy, knowledge of the people and resources available to them during their time at Toronto Film School, and higher confidence in their ability to succeed at Toronto Film School and beyond.